The crème de la crème of Hollywood’s artists and actors have increasingly expressed concerns over how artificial intelligence poses a significant risk to their craft and livelihood and even to the very core of what it means to be creative as humans. This has been particularly visible through strikes and other lawsuits, as actresses Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, and Natasha Lyonne have been at the forefront. This started through the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and has continued through 2026.Scarlett Johansson launches anti-theft campaign. Actress Scarlett Johansson came up as a vocal critic after OpenAI used a voice similar to hers for their product, an assistant tool, Chat GPT, in 2024. She issued a cease and desist statement following her issue with her voice being used without her permission. In January 2026, Scarlett Johansson supported the “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” campaign by the Human Artistry Campaign. Over 700 creatives signed on, arguing, “Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft—plain and simple,” as stated in the campaign’s manifesto. Scarlett Johansson reiterated to The News International, emphasizing dangers to the U.S. creative sector that supports millions of jobs.
Cate Blanchett joins forces
Cate Blanchett aligned with Scarlett Johansson in the same 2026 initiative, underscoring ethical AI development. The campaign, launched January 22, called for licensing deals over exploitation. “A better way exists. It is possible to have it all. We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected,” the joint statement proposed. Cate Blanchett’s support highlighted threats across film, TV, music, and publishing, warning that unchecked AI erodes cultural power.
Nicolas Cage warns of robotic dreams.
Nicolas Cage delivered a passionate plea at the 2025 National Board of Review Awards. “I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us,” Nicolas Cage declared. He continued, “That is a dead end if an actor lets one AI robot manipulate his or her performance even a little bit; an inch will eventually become a mile, and all integrity, purity, and truth of art will be replaced by financial interests only. We can’t let that happen,” as reported by Lifestyle Fortress. Nicolas Cage fears AI dilutes authentic performances central to acting.
Samuel L. Jackson on AI
Samuel L. Jackson took practical steps against posthumous AI misuse. In a Rolling Stone interview, he advised, “Future actors should do what I always do when I get a contract, and it has the words ‘in perpetuity’ and ‘known and unknown’ on it: I cross that s**t out.” Samuel L. Jackson explained, “It’s my way of saying, ‘No, I do not approve of this,’” ensuring studios cannot exploit his likeness indefinitely.
Natasha Lyonne calls for boycotts
Natasha Lyonne rallied against AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood in September 2025. “Any talent agency involved with [Norwood] should be boycotted by guilds,” Natasha Lyonne stated on social media, per BBC News. She added, “This is profoundly misguided and utterly unsettling.” Natasha Lyonne, who led a 2025 open letter with over 420 insiders, including Bette Midler and Mark Ruffalo, urged copyright enforcement. The SAG-AFTRA union echoed, “Norwood is not an actress but a character created by a computer program that has been trained on the performances of numerous professional artists.”These stars champion human artistry amid rapid AI advances. Their advocacy pushes for regulations balancing innovation with fair compensation—safeguarding Hollywood’s soul for generations.
